Following a divorce, the courts in Oklahoma emphasize the need for children to spend as much time as possible with their parents.
A parenting plan is a blueprint that will help you achieve this goal and more as you continue to raise your children. Here are three major sections to include in your plan.
1. Parenting schedule
Depending on individual schedules, you and the other parent must devise a parenting schedule that will work for everyone. You may both hold down jobs, and, depending on their ages, the children may have various activities to consider in addition to school. You may need to develop a pattern of rotation that will allow the children as much time with you and your co-parent as possible. The plan should also show how you will handle timesharing during holidays and vacations.
2. Making big decisions
The court will want to know who is responsible for making major decisions on behalf of the children. These decisions concern their education, medical and dental care, religious upbringing, disciplinary action and more. The court encourages decision-making on the part of both parents if possible. Also explain how you and the other parent will communicate, for example, by phone, text or email.
3. Managing expenses
Your parenting plan should explain how you will manage expenses related to your children. You may share many of the expenses jointly while one of you takes charge of other child-rearing costs.
Other considerations
Remember that every parenting plan is unique, and you can add other details that are important in your particular circumstances. With legal guidance, you can develop a plan that is well written and contains all the important points concerned with raising your children. This is the kind of parenting plan the court will approve.